ADDIS ABABA, (Xinhua) -- Empowerment of women is critical for the
development of future generations in Africa, according to
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the outgoing Chairperson of the African
Union Commission (AUC).

The AUC
Chairperson made the remarks while commemorating the
International Women’s Day in a ceremony held on Wednesday
at the African Union’s headquarter in Ethiopia’s capital
Addis Ababa.

“At all
levels, empowerment of women is critical. Critical not
only for them but also for future generations, because
those kids would have the same fate if their mothers went
working.” she said.

The outgoing
chairperson further emphasized the importance to celebrate
the determination of women around the world for equal
rights and have women’s voices heard.

“There are
still struggles even at work places that women have to go
through, such as the conditions of work, sometimes sexual
harassment and less pay for equal work,” she said. “These
are the struggles that we have to look at.”

The
Pan-African block joined the international community to
celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political
achievements of women, while also reviewing past progress
of women’s development and looking ahead at future
opportunities for women in the African continent.

“Women’s Day
is an opportunity for the African Union to consider what
it will take for African women, especially young girls to
succeed in the changing world of work,” said Mahawa Kaba
Wheeler, Director for Women, Gender and Development at AUC.

ADDIS ABABA, (Xinhua) -- Mahawa Kaba Wheeler (L), African Union
Commission (AUC) Director for Women, Gender and
Development and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, the outgoing
Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) attend
the International Women’s Day celebrations at the African
Union’s headquarter in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia,
March 8, 2017. Empowerment of women is critical for the
development of future generations in Africa, according to
Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, the outgoing Chairperson of the
African Union Commission (AUC).XINHUA PHOTO: MICHAEL
TEWELDE

The international
women’s day celebration creates an opportunity for women and men
to come together and organize themselves for social
transformation on values and principles that ensure enjoyment of
human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, she said.

The AU has also
honored African women—past and present—for their contributions
to the struggle for independence, the end of apartheid and the
establishment of the OAU/AU.

This year’s African
Union’s International Women’s Day commemoration was celebrated
with a theme “African Women, Especially Young Women Succeeding
in the Changing World of Work: 50:50 by 2063.”